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Is Venezuela burning while world watches

Ukraine?FRIDAY 21 FEBRUARY 2014

As the violence in Ukraine threatens to take the country to the brink ofcivil ar! on the other si"e of the orl" unrest in #ene$uela threatens to "o thesa%e&

While the attention of Europe has been focused on the increasing violence

in Ukraine, protests in Venezuela are also threatening to spiral out of control

with six people now confirmed dead already in the past week.

n Wednesday night, the Venezuelan capital !aracas saw its worst night of

violence since anti"government protests began nearly three weeks ago.

#uman $ights Watch reported further outbreaks of violence overnight in the

capital, where a new protest march is planned to take place tomorrow. %t

also claimed international media were being accused of under"reporting the

crisis.

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&rotesters erected burning barricades around 'ltamira ()uare in the

wealthier east of the city, where security forces fired teargas and bullets

and chased youths, who hurled *olotov cocktails and blocked roads with

burning piles of trash.

'longside them, protesters have alleged government"backed +colectivos+

described as paramilitary gangs on motorbikes- have shot at people with

live ammunition, while government officials have accused protesters of

using sharpshooters to target rallies in support of &resident icolas *aduro,

from rooftops and elsewhere.

'(han)e "e*en"s on every one of us& Don't )ive u*+'" /ilian 0intoriElsewhere in Venezuela 'lexis *artinez, a supporter of the socialist

president, was shot dead, becoming the sixth fatality in more than a week

of violence.

*artinez was the brother of a ruling (ocialist party legislator, in the central

city of 1ar)uisimeto. ' local 2ournalist said he was shot in the chest while

passing an opposition protest.

(cores of people have been in2ured or arrested since the violence broke out

eight days ago, in what has become the most serious unrest since &resident

*aduro was narrowly elected president of Venezuela in 'pril 3456.

'cross the country provincial cities including Valencia, *erida, (an

!ristobal, *aracaibo and &uerto rdaz have also seen an escalation in

violence.

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*eanwhile, /eopoldo /opez, the 73"year"old #arvard"educated economist

and leader of the &opular Will opposition party, who handed himself in to

authorities on 0uesday in front of his supporters to face charges of inciting

violence, will remain in custody pending further hearings, his lawyer told

#uman $ights Watch yesterday.

1efore handing himself over to the authorities, *r /opez gave a speech to

thousands of supporters at a protest rally in which he said he hoped his

arrest would wake the country up to its +un2ust 2ustice+ and denied the

charges against him.

't the same time government supporters wearing red held a rival march

and headed to the presidential palace to rally in support of the president.*r /opez is being held in !aracas8 $amo Verde military 2ail. 9esterday, his

wife /ilian 0intori took to 0witter urging supporters: +!hange depends on

every one of us. ;on8t give up<+

Ra%*ant inflation an" foo" shorta)es 0he protesters, most of them middle"class students, have called on *aduro

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to resign, and blame his government for violent crime, rampant inflation,

shortages of goods and food, and alleged repression of opponents.

 0he number of murders in Venezuela last year was estimated at 37,=44 by

non"governmental organisation bservatorio Venezolano de la

Violencia Venezuelan Violence Watch-.

 0hat makes Venezuela among the most violent countries in the world along

with #onduras, El (alvador, %vory !oast, and >amaica.

%nflation, which has leapt to ?@ per cent, has been linked to severe currency

controls introduced by the country last year that have limited imports and

exacerbated shortages from newsprint to car parts and food.

pposition leaders have said the currency controls are symptomatic of a

failing economic system created by late Venezuelan president #ugo

!havez, one that faces slowing growth, soaring prices and continuing

shortages of staple products.

 With almost 28,000 murders in 2013, Venezuela is now considered one of the mostdangerous countries in the world, despite government attempts to crack down oncrime. ead more! is Venezuela the most dangerous place on earth"

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*aduro has blamed opposition forces and ideological opponents in

Washington for waging an +economic war+ on Venezuela, though officials

widely recognise that the currency controls are rife with corruption.

!ountries around /atin 'merica are reported to be watching closely. &olitical

allies such as !uba, which receives Venezuelan oil on preferential terms,

have denounced the protests as +coup attempt,+ similar to those of 3443

which briefly toppled !havez from power, while other nations have called

for dialogue between the two sides.

*aduro has accused /opez and +small fascist groups+ of being in league

with the U( government and want a coup and of trying to instigate a coup.

Earlier this week, the !aracas government expelled three U( diplomats for+conspiring+ against it.

U( &resident 1arack bama has criticised *aduro8s government for

arresting protesters and urged it to focus on addressing the +legitimate

grievances+ of its people.

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Object1  ,e)iti%ate )rievances 0he Venezuelan government responded with a statement in which it

accused the U( of +a new and gross interference+ in its internal affairs.

+%ndependent governments and the people of the world want the U(

government to explain why it funds, encourages and defends opposition

leaders who promote violence in our country,+ the government statement

added.

While /opez has won admiration among opposition supporters frustrated by

5? years of electoral losses, other opposition leaders have called him a

dangerous hothead.

#e has fre)uently s)uabbled with fellow opposition leaders and was

involved in the 3443 coup, even helping arrest a minister.

Venezuela8s main opposition leader, #enri)ue !apriles, who lost to *aduro

in last year8s presidential election, has previously said he disagrees with

/opez8s street tactics but backs protesters8 grievances and has condemned

the government response.